I don't think so. not a knock on V (well i guess it kind of is) but there's a few rookie bigs that are going to be inheriting a lot of minutes/better situations.

I actually think Jonas will be forced fed minutes once he's 100% in game-shape. Even in his rookie/rusty shape, he isn't much worse than Gray or Amir manning the middle. IMO, it's a low risk move to give Jonas the bulk of the minutes.

2 Games into the preseason and I've yet to see any hint of Casey's defensive philosophies. It's early I know and he is trying to intergrate 2 rookies and a couple of free agents into the rotation but still looks pretty ugly right now.

My player impressions:
JL3 - Can't stand the guy. He's looking way better than he actually is because it's pre season and apparently nobody cares about defense or shot selection. There is no way he should be our first PG off the bench.

DD - Improved handles, more confident, but same tunnel vision as always. 2 on 1 and he goes for the more difficult shot when he could have passed it to an open JV. His defense still isn't great but it's clear he's looking to play the open lanes in hope of getting a steal more so than last year.

Amir - I don't know if he's unhappy about the eventual move from starting C to coming off the bench or something, but Drummond was schooling him all last night. His head doesn't seem to be in the game.

Ed - Not strong enough, not active enough, game is still too fast for him.

Andrea - Shot selection is there, just hasn't found his shooting touch just yet.

JL3 - Can't stand the guy. He's looking way better than he actually is because it's pre season and apparently nobody cares about defense or shot selection. There is no way he should be our first PG off the bench.

I actually like what I've seen from Lucas so far. It's true he isn't a prototypical pass-first quarterback, but I like his veteran presence, his ability to create his own shot (as well as for others), and his outside shooting has been solid. He has taken a few ill-advised shots...but then again, who hasn't?

I wouldn't have any problem with Lucas playing 15-20 mpg if/when Calderon is traded. In a very young season so far, he's becoming my favourite roster sleeper.

DD - Improved handles, more confident, but same tunnel vision as always. 2 on 1 and he goes for the more difficult shot when he could have passed it to an open JV. His defense still isn't great but it's clear he's looking to play the open lanes in hope of getting a steal more so than last year.

I actually liked that play, it's 2 on 1, he's the scoring athletic guard running down with a rookie big man playing in his first game, the better play is to not pass and use V as distraction to not take a charge, and if you miss the likelihood is the 7 footer will get his hands on it for the putback.

I actually like what I've seen from Lucas so far. It's true he isn't a prototypical pass-first quarterback, but I like his veteran presence, his ability to create his own shot (as well as for others), and his outside shooting has been solid. He has taken a few ill-advised shots...but then again, who hasn't?

I wouldn't have any problem with Lucas playing 15-20 mpg if/when Calderon is traded. In a very young season so far, he's becoming my favourite roster sleeper.

Lowry's health is definitely scaring me a little right now, but I agree that JL3's play so far could definitely wind up making pulling the trigger on a Calderon trade much easier for BC (especially if Calderon returns next offseason at a reduced rate).

I was hoping that either Amir/Davis would show some signs of life, especially in light of their playing time being threatened by the addition of Valanciunas and the workmanship approach by Gray & Acy.

I like DeRozan's aggressiveness and hope it translates into the regular season, but I fear he's becoming even more of a black hole, especially with it being a contract year (individual stats tend to talk louder than team results, unfortunately).

Overall, I've been pleased so far. I don't think Casey is too worried about defense, since it's his primary coaching strength and really can't be put into full effect until lineups/rotations are nailed down. These first few games are more about seeing individual players loosening up (ie: Bargnani, Calderon, Fields) and fighting for playing time (rookies and positional battles). I expect we'll see tighter rotations, more effort from the starters and more attention to defense as the preseason goes on.

It makes me laugh that any of you are making predictions like this in the PRESEASON. Have you not ever watched preseason in years past? some guys look like HoF material and starters look like bums and then the season starts and you're like wtf? It is slightly closer to real games than summer league but it's similar to SL is to the drew league. In fact it's really just glorified PRACTICE, yes, we talkin 'bout practice.

I actually like what I've seen from Lucas so far. It's true he isn't a prototypical pass-first quarterback, but I like his veteran presence, his ability to create his own shot (as well as for others), and his outside shooting has been solid. He has taken a few ill-advised shots...but then again, who hasn't?

I wouldn't have any problem with Lucas playing 15-20 mpg if/when Calderon is traded. In a very young season so far, he's becoming my favourite roster sleeper.

You're right that he's not a pass first pg, but he's a far cry from being a scorer like Bayless. JL3 imo cannot create his own shot...wasn't able to do it in Chicago and he's only taken horrible shots when he's tried to create for himself thus far in two preseason games. Just my opinion and I'm not ragging on the guy because of what I've seen in two maningless preseason games but just calling it as I see it. If we were to trade Calderon with the expectation that JL3 is the back up to Lowry I would be deeply, deeply disappointed.

I actually liked that play, it's 2 on 1, he's the scoring athletic guard running down with a rookie big man playing in his first game, the better play is to not pass and use V as distraction to not take a charge, and if you miss the likelihood is the 7 footer will get his hands on it for the putback.

I guess I saw it as an opportunity to get his big man an easy bucket for running the floor so hard. Have to reward the bigs when they play hard.

couple of days late with my comments to this but calderon got caught on every single pick, screen! I would have loved to be in the film room when they showed him at least 20 plays in one game where he couldn't get through the screen thus hurting the defense.

when contract negotiating come up and he puts up his 9 assist a game 12 pts they should put a highlight reel with all the baskets he gave up because he couldn't get through the screen and lol at whatever he is asking for.

The only problem with Lucas is he's a volume scorer. We just have to hope that when he's ice cold, Casey has the wisdom to pull him out of the game and leave him there. That was one of the biggest complaints I heard from friends who follow the Bulls closely. When he gets hot he can really light it up but on most nights if you leave him out too long he will single-handedly shoot your team out of the game.

I think eventually the team will realize JV's pick and roll game. If Jose and Amir have great PnR chemistry, imagine what JV could do. Any time he gets that ball close, he's going to try and explode for a dunk

I think eventually the team will realize JV's pick and roll game. If Jose and Amir have great PnR chemistry, imagine what JV could do. Any time he gets that ball close, he's going to try and explode for a dunk

There were a few instances on Wednesday where Jonas could've been fed while rolling. It's almost as if his teammates weren't expecting him to free up so much space. That should change with more practice time together.